Agrikexpo partners EU Conference as event date shifts

The 2015 edition of the annual agriculture/food exhibition (Agrikexpo) is being partnered by the Conference of the European Union, which would be centred mainly on agriculture and allied businesses.

So far, several key companies in the sector would be on hand to exhibit benchmarked agriculture, food, beverage, packaging products and services. Consequently, and considering the adjustment in Nigerian 2015 election timetable, the event earlier scheduled to hold in April has been shifted to November 5 – 7, following demand from many trade visitors, farmers and exhibitors. It is wise to allow new government appointees time to settle in to work after the elections.

It would be recalled that in last year’s edition, Akinwunmi Adesina, minister of agriculture, described Agrikexpo as the very best of agricultural expos, which has since continued to rise in profile as the largest agriculture/food/beverage exhibition in West Africa.

The new date is in consonance with the European Union Conference on Agriculture, and convenient for many international class exhibitors and visitors, according to Eppellee Oluwadara, project director, 151 Products Limited, organiser of the exhibition, in Lagos.

This year’s event has been endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Nigeria Agricultural Business Group (NABG), Nigeria British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Master Bakers Association of Nigeria, Lagos chapter, West African Association of Food and Beverage Merchants, and numerous other agricultural associations.

According to Paulette van Trier, Economic Counsellor to the EU, Agrikexpo would be a good opportunity for various state agricultural development boards to showcase investment opportunities after the elections to major players from various EU member countries who would be attending a conference during the exhibition.

Also, the national co-ordinator, NABG, Emmanuel Ijewere, commended the shift in date as it will rally the agribusiness community for a more robust participation, as it will give more time for preparations, saying “Agrikexpo remains a formidable networking opportunity for agribusiness development in Nigeria.”

Oluwana Dayo, marketing manager of the organising company, reaffirmed that all was being done to ensure a high-value-added event for exhibitors, including those engaged in processing, packaging and distribution of food/beverages as local companies prepare to process for exports.

There would be seminars in the area of export and enhancement between Nigeria and other countries. Adeyemi Adefulu, president of the Nigeria British Chamber of Commerce, also confirmed that a forum was being put in place using the occasion of the Agrikexpo to boost agri/food trade between Nigeria and the UK.